Babel: A Kathy and Brock Mystery, Book 6

By: Barry Maitland

Narrated by: Fleet Cooper

Scotland Yard's brilliant crime-solving duo, Kathy Kolla and David Brock, take on an unsettling new case that touches on the timeliest of issues: Arab fundamentalism, genetic engineering, and murder.

Following her ordeal at the end of Silvermeadow, Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla is on leave at the start of Babel, so burned out she is tempted to quit the force for good. But nothing can keep her from the hunt in this puzzling new case. Professor Max Springer, one of Britain's leading academics, has been brutally murdered on the steps of a London university. Springer was notorious for his stand against Islamic extremism, but was that motive enough to kill him? While Kathy and Brock start looking for answers in London's Arab community, rivalries within the university point in another direction. Springer's colleague, a professor of medical genetics, becomes involved. Is he as dangerous and unethical as he seems? Meanwhile, why would someone leak information about this sensitive investigation to the media, risking an explosion in the streets? In this taut and satisfying mystery, Barry Maitland proves once again that he is one of the masters of the police procedural writing today.

©2002, 2011 Barry Maitland (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Very Mediocre Outing

This narrator would be better served to stick to period pieces. His nasal, snooty version of female characters is practically offensive, certainly outdated. I enjoy this series, but this one was a bit garbled, possibly because of the bad narration. I’ll keep listening to the author with other narrators, as I’ve enjoyed several others in this series.

Love the series

I realize reading a book with many people and various accents takes skill and is not easy. However what disappointment with this narrator especially the women’s voices. Much of the time his interpretation was in the background as it should but sometimes it really was awful. The story and characters are so good that I finished it and am glad “The Promise Land” has a different voice.

I wish you would get more Barry Maitland books

I learned about Barry Maitland's Kathy and Brock mysteries in London from a bookseller there. Thank you audible for having the two titles - wish you would add more unabridged books by Maitland in this detective series! I find the books too be a good balance of character, plot and local setting - wish you'd add more in the series!

Hate the narrator

Such a disappointment to hear this narrator’s somewhat cold and pedantic rendition after the warmth, authentic accents and excellence of the female narrator of the book before. Ugh I can hardly bear to listen.
Like many male narrators he gives the female such unreal and unattractive voices making their segments unbearable. Perhaps being female I’m biased. But then I love lots of books with male narrators. Was the idea to attract a more masculine audience? I hope if they do more of the series they ditch this guy. I will persevere with the book but it is grating.

intricate plot, great performance -- satisfying !

Love the characters and insight into various cultures and class structures. Good police procedural -- great mystery spiced with danger and just a little romance.

Difficult to follow along

While the story was okay, I really found it difficult to follow along. Difficult to keep track of all the different characters. Not my favorite book.

Murdering an English accent

Why, oh why use an American actor to narrate a book set in England with predominantly English characters? The story was interesting but I was distracted by the awful accent. We have many fabulous native English actors who would have read this so much better. I am sure Mr Cooper reads beautifully when using his own American English-but the Queen’s English - no. It spoiled my listening experience.